When you think of
the
most pet-friendly states places like
California, Oregon or Florida may come to mind. You may not think of South
Dakota. However, the Black Hills
Region of South Dakota takes a back
seat to no
one as far as a vacation paradise for your four legged friend. The main
catch is
it's far from most places. If you are driving cross country on
Interstate 90 you
will pass right through the region. You should stop and spend a few
days.

Coming
from the east on Interstate
90 before you get to the Black
Hills you
should
visit the Pioneer
Auto Show in Murdo. This
automobile and machinery
museum takes
up ten large hangers and welcomes your leashed dog inside and out.
After a visit
to the Pioneer Auto Show, you can drive through scenic Badlands
National Park.
Dogs are not allowed on any of the trails that leave the roadway in
Badlands
National Park, however, most of the scenery is visible from the many
pull outs
and parking lots. Also, your well-behaved, leashed dog is welcome to
visit the
grounds of the Badlands Petrified Gardens where you can view petrified
animals
and tracks from the past.

The
most famous attraction
of the Black Hills is, of course, Mount
Rushmore. Dogs used
to be
allowed on the paved observation area but a number of years ago the
Park Service
unfortunately banned dogs from the complex.
Now the closest view your
pet can
get of the famous mountain is from the parking lot. This still offers a
good
view of the mountain and is well worth seeing. However, it can be very
hot here
in the summer so please don't leave your dog in the car without a
person staying
with them. True dog-friendly attractions in the Black Hills are
plentiful. They
include Bear Country USA, where you drive through a wild animal park,
Thunderhead Underground Falls, and the Reptile Gardens in Rapid City
where you
can see probably more types of snakes and other reptiles than you might
want. In
Rapid City, take a look at the Berlin Wall, which are sections of the
actual
Berlin Wall. You can take your dog with you to Dinosaur Park
on the hill
overlooking Rapid City. This unique city park, listed on the official
National
Register of Historic Places, has a number of real life sized statues of
dinosaurs. There are also a number of dog-friendly restaurants where
dogs can
eat with you on the patio. Thirsty's is a good choice and our travel
guide lists
many others as well.

For
those of you
whose dog would appreciate an long hiking experience, there is the 111
mile Centennial
Trail to hike. From Wind Cave to
Bear Butte State Park, this
trail
offers many scenic views and is usually kept in excellent condition.
Please
bring your own water.

Pet-Friendly
hotels
and campgrounds are plentiful in the area, from the major chain hotels
in Rapid
City to hotels in Custer and Hot Springs. If you are camping and have
kids,
consider the Flintstones Bedrock City Theme Park Campground and
Amusement Park
which is pet-friendly.

If
you are driving
cross-country this is a must see vacation spot for you and your
companion
4-legged traveler. If you fly with your dog it is easy to fly into the
Rapid
City Airport from major airline hubs.

Before you visit an establishment or place, please
contact them and verify that they are still dog-friendly and available, as policies
and management change frequently. All places listed on DogFriendly.com require
your dog to be leashed and under your direct control unless specified otherwise
by an establishments (including parks and beaches) management. Please be aware
of local Breed-Specific
Laws that may be in place where you are visiting. The information
on this site is not a recommendation. DogFriendly.com, Inc. makes no warranties
or representations of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of the
site or the information, content, materials, or products included on this site.
If you find an establishment that no longer allows dogs, please let us know so
we can remove them from our list. For full Rules and Regulations for Use of This
Site, including the legal disclaimer and copyright notices,
click here before using the site.